MOUNTAINFILM FESTIVAL | MAY 27-31, 2027
Using the power of film, art and ideas, Mountainfilm inspires audiences to create a better world. Held every Memorial Day weekend (May 27-31, 2027), the festival brings together a community of filmmakers and change makers, showcasing documentary films that celebrate adventure, activism, social justice, environment and indomitable spirit. We accept and screen feature and short films on a broad range of subjects. We are always interested in work that focuses on mountains (both symbolic and physical), mountain culture, and mountaineering, but we also showcase films about people who are dedicated to changing the world.

OUR MISSION
Mountainfilm uses the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.

OUR VISION
Mountainfilm is a dynamic organization and festival of films, people, stories, and ideas that celebrates indomitable spirit, educates and inspires audiences, and motivates individuals and communities to advance solutions for a livable world.

OUR VALUES
Embracing adventure / Preserving environments / Connecting cultures / Building community / Inspiring activism / Fostering storytellers / Promoting integrity / Gathering visionaries / Celebrating courage / Enlightening audiences

Mountainfilm promotes and encourages diversity behind the camera.

If you have questions about the submission process, be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions and detailed Submission Guidelines on the Mountainfilm website.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Choice Award: Feature: $5,000
Audience Choice Award: Short: $1,000
Best Documentary Feature: $5,000
Best Documentary Short: $5,000
James Balog Creative Vision Award: $5,000
Women in Film Award: $3,500
Moving Mountains Award (supports a film and associated nonprofit featured in a film): $1,500 to the filmmaker(s) + $1,000 to the nonprofit
Charlie Fowler Best Adventure Film: $2,500
First Peoples Award: $2,500
Student Choice Award (awarded by a jury of regional students): $2,000
LGBTQ+ IMPACT AWARD: $3,000
https://www.mountainfilm.org/festival/awards/

Rules & Terms

Eligibility Requirements:

• Mountainfilm is a documentary film festival. If your film is not a documentary, do not submit.
• Feature documentaries are 40 minutes and longer. Shorts are under 40 minutes, including credits.
• Film entries may be of any length, from any country and on any subject in keeping with our mission. Films should either be in English or include English subtitles.
• At this time, we do not accept VR projects.
• With few exceptions, Mountainfilm requires that films have not screened or been broadcast in Colorado prior to the festival. We take other previous screenings, broadcast and online availability into consideration when making official selections.
• For the 2026 festival, we are seeking films making their premieres after June 2026.
• We will consider films that have had an online presence, though our preference is to highlight work that has not already reached a large audience.

Submission Guidelines: PLEASE READ!

• Only COMPLETE applications will be considered. This includes full contact information, listing of all directors and producers, film synopsis and specs, hi-res production stills, a trailer (features only), a Vimeo screener link and director headshot and bio.
• Please submit the most recent/updated version of your film. We do not accept rough cuts.
• We prefer Vimeo links over FilmFreeway's video uploads as it helps us in our screener process.
• Your screener link must remain active until June 15, 2027.
• Entry fees are non-refundable.
• If you are from an LMIC, a BIPOC filmmaker or a student, please contact us for a possible submission fee discount waiver.

Due to the number of submissions received, we unfortunately cannot provide feedback on entries.
49 Reviews
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  • Beth Gage

    Mountainfilm is THE BEST! If you’re a documentary filmmaker, love watching documentaries, or love meeting lots of warm, welcoming, creative, outdoorsy, open-hearted people, then Mountainfilm, in gorgeous Telluride, Colorado, is the place to spend Memorial Day Weekend. In 1989 it convinced us to become documentary filmmakers. We premiered our first doc there in 1995 and premiered our current film there in 2026, and there were lots more in between. Thank you Mountainfilm!

    June 2026
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  • Jeremy Seifert

    Best of the best! What a gem of a festival. We had our world premiere of PAPERTOWN this year and it was such a fantastic place to celebrate our film with a sold out theater. Thanks, Mountainfilm for an unforgettable festival.

    May 2026
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  • Chad Santo Tomas

    Mountainfilm was such a welcoming and intimate festival experience. I'm so glad that our crew got to experience it together because being in conversation with such courageous and expansive stories reaffirmed for us the singular weight that documentaries hold. The curation of the film blocks (ours screened in the Indomitable Spirits program) was also some of the most thoughtful we've experienced, illuminating the connective threads between seemingly disparate films. Also want to credit the BIPOC meet-up hosted by Firelight Media for helping to create a safe and fun atmosphere for us as BIPOC filmmakers. Highly recommend submitting and attending this festival.

    May 2026
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  • Usama Alshaibi

    IT was an incredible experience! So grateful to be part of Mountainfilm.

    May 2026
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  • Francesco Valentinuzzi

    I had the opportunity to attend Mountainfilm 2025, and it was by far one of the best festivals I've experienced. The event was exceptionally well-organized, and the stunning backdrop of Telluride made it even more memorable. I connected with many inspiring filmmakers and left feeling both energized and grateful.

    June 2025
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